21 



Cocoa-nut trees, loaded with fruit, are common, but not 

 numerous in the vicinity of the village. The inhabi- 

 tants of this part seem to be poor ; their villages are 

 by no means clean, and, altogether, compare unfavour- 

 ably with those residing on the coast. On the road to 

 Naduri four large streams were crossed, all flowing 

 westward to the Drekiti river. There are several 

 settlements on this river where, I believe, there are 

 nearly 30 square miles of good cane land, most of 

 which contists of alluvium and low hills with water 

 frontage on a navigable stream. 



The village of Naduri is built on a low lying, flat 

 piece of rich land about 3 square miles in extent, 

 which is capable of yielding any kind of crop. The 

 climate being dry during the cool season, cultivation 

 is aided by irrigation. The water is supplied by one 

 or more streams that have been turned into channels 

 dug for the purpose. Cocoa-nut trees abound in the 

 village and in the vicinity, but there is available 

 space for further planting. The village is well built, 

 cleanly kept, and the ground is carpeted with short 

 grass like a lawn, — the latter feature being character- 

 istic of the tidiest and best kept native villages. The 

 European stipendiary magistrate for Vanua Levu 

 resides and has a court house in Naduri. All the 

 magistrates in Fiji, Levuka excepted, go from one 

 district to another administering justice, holding their 

 courts, for want of proper buildings, in the village 

 schools and occasionally under a tree. But this in- 

 convenience is in the way of being remedied. In the 

 villages where courts are usually held the people are 

 erecting buildings for the accommodation of the court, 

 and also for the magistrate where it is necessary for 

 him to remain a few days. Beche de mer is found 



